Digital Commons Network^™

Balancing Civil Liberties And Civil Rights, Adam Opp

Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy: Briefs and Commentaries

The Framers stressed the importance of civil liberties when drafting the United States Constitution to guarantee the freedoms of individuals. However, for decades, there has been an increased focus on civil rights to protect individuals from discrimination and ensure their equality under the law. The question becomes how civil liberties and civil rights intersect, and whether this intersection is always positive, or if advocating for civil rights can come at the expense of civil liberties. This paper will discuss civil liberties and civil rights, examine how policy processes impact civil rights, and address concerns about the grave consequences for the …

Hyperspectral Image Classification Using Novel 1-D And 2-D Deep Neural Networks, Özlem Polat, Zümray Dokur, Tamer Ölmez

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Hyperspectral image (HSI) classification is of critical importance in many fields including agriculture, geology, environmental monitoring, and urban planning. In recent years, many researchers have utilized deep neural networks (DNNs), known for their high performance in the classification of HSIs. When 2-D/3-D convolutional neural networks are used in HSI classification, filters are applied using input patches typically larger than 11 × 11. This allows spectral and spatial features to be evaluated together. However, this combination creates several problems. Because HSIs have low spatial resolution, they often do not contain strong texture details. Furthermore, features with little relevance to classification make …

Formation Mechanism Of High-Quality Reservoirs In The Shanxi Formation Of The Qingyang Gas Field In A Meandering River Delta Setting, Xingming Duan, Shu Liu, Meng Wang, Yecan Fan, Xiyu Wang, Xinan Yu, Zubing Li

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

As global energy demand rises, unconventional gas resources, particularly tight gas reservoirs, have become increasingly important for future energy supply. Located in the southwestern Ordos Basin, the Qingyang gas field is a newly discovered deep tightgas field with proven geological reserves exceeding 31.8 × 109 m3 and has become a strategic focus for deep-gas exploration in China. Despite rapid appraisal that delineated several stable gas-bearing zones, a comprehensive understanding of the sedimentary architecture, diagenetic transformation, and enrichment mechanisms of high-quality reservoirs in the Permian Shanxi Formation remains incomplete. Focusing on the Shan 1 Member (hereafter referred to as Shan 1), …

A Shallow Landslide Hazard Assessment Using A Probabilistic Approach: An Example From Northeastern Türkiye (Beşikdüzü, Trabzon), Kübra Tezel, Aykut Akgün

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The objective of this study was to identify and assess shallow landslide hazard in both spatial and temporal terms within the boundaries of Beşikdüzü District in northeastern Türkiye. The workflow was initiated with the development of a detailed multitemporal mass‑movement inventory map derived from satellite imagery provided on the Google Earth platform,1 covering the period between 2000 and 2018. Inventory mapping was complemented by extensive field verification campaigns to identify discrepancies, confirm spatial accuracy, and document additional morphological details that could not be detected from imagery alone. A 10-m spatial resolution digital elevation model (DEM) was generated from 1:25,000-scale digital …

Does Climate Finance Empower Or Exclude Women? Evidence From Bangladesh, Sofia Castelo, Lia G. Antunes, Md. Ashrafuzzaman

Journal of International Women's Studies

Despite the formal adoption of gender policies by significant climate funds and international agreements aimed at promoting equity, only 2.3% of global climate finance is explicitly allocated to gender equality, and women remain significantly underrepresented in climate-related decision-making processes. Although several climate funds, such as the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund, have successfully integrated gender components, implementation often remains symbolic rather than transformative. Drawing on a critical ecofeminist framework, this article examines how climate finance mechanisms, particularly in the Global South, can inadvertently reinforce existing gender inequities. Using Bangladesh as a case study, this analysis synthesizes existing literature …

Ucf Pegasus Plan - 2nd Grade - Early Native American Cultures, Kendall Childs, Megan Klein, Tiffany Salkin

Pegasus Plans: Social Studies Unit Plans for Florida Teachers

No abstract provided.

Risk Factors And Prevention Strategies For Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Following Fractures: A Scoping Review, Tina Tran, Brian H. Tran, Tatum R. Dam, Ank A. Agarwal, Moorice Caparó

Student Publications

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a neuropathic pain disorder characterized by pain disproportionate to the severity of the inciting injury, persisting beyond the expected period of tissue healing. CRPS can significantly impact functional outcomes, but despite increasing research, risk factors and preventive strategies remain incompletely characterized. The objective is to map the existing evidence on risk factors and preventive strategies for CRPS following fracture, including trauma-related, surgical, and patient-related contributors, and identify gaps in current prevention and risk stratification approaches. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and Scopus was conducted from database inception through March 17, 2026. Eligible studies …

Crowding In Private Capital For Climate Adaptation In India, Shreya Bajaj

Master in Public Policy Theses

Reports show that India is highly vulnerable to climate change. Mitigation efforts alone cannot address these risks, and adaptation remains essential. Yet while much of the existing literature documents the adaptation finance gap, it offers less practical guidance on where private capital can realistically be used and what institutional arrangements are needed to make it work. This paper tries to address that gap in the Indian context.

This paper examines three adaptation finance use cases through which private capital could support climate adaptation and resilience in India: parametric disaster risk transfer, pooled municipal finance, and water fund. For each issue, …

A Just Reimagining Of The Loss & Damage Fund, Sarah Cheung

Master in Public Policy Theses

The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), established at COP28 in 2023, represents a historic diplomatic breakthrough in multilateral climate finance, yet its design reflects the compromises necessary to secure political agreement rather than a just institutional architecture. This thesis evaluates the FRLD and two prominent reform proposals—the Bridgetown Initiative 3.0 and Esther Duflo's Grand Bargain—against a novel framework that provides a more precise way to evaluate the “justness” of different arrangements. This framework encompasses three dimensions: compensatory, distributive, and procedural justice. [JS1] A dimension of justice is achieved in a two-fold manner; first, through rhetorical commitments in …

Towards Critical Agency: A Case Study Of Japanese Peacebuilding And Development In The Bangsamoro, Hana Soma

Master in Public Policy Theses

Asking “In what ways have anthropological methods been part of Japan's peacebuilding and development interventions in the Bangsamoro?”, this research hopes to make a contribution to the study of anthropology and development and their practical application by exploring the possibilities of the role of an anthropological approach in making sense of modern-day development programs, particularly through the case study of Japan’s peacebuilding-through-development efforts in the Bangsamoro. After outlining the research question as well as the design and methodology used to answer it and an overview of the histories of dispossession and the Japanese relationship to Mindanao, the essay …

Applicability Of Machine Learning For Shear-Wave Velocity Prediction From Conventional Well Logs: The Lsboost Approach, Rahmat Catur Wibowo, Fadsyah Muhammad Arby, Bagus Sapto Mulyatno, Ordas Dewanto, Isti Nur Kumalasari, Muh Sarkowi

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Shear-wave velocity (Vs) is one of the most critical parameters for determining geomechanical properties and basin overpressure. However, assessing Vs via techniques like core analysis requires considerable effort and expense. This study predicts Vs using several approaches and compares the accuracy levels of all models. For this objective, the multiple linear regression, multiple linear stepwise regression, support vector machine, and least-squares boost (LSBoost) methodologies were selected. The six well-logging data inputs of density (RHOB), gamma-ray (GR), deep resistivity (ILD), acoustic wave velocity (Vp), shale volume (VCL), and water saturation (SW) were selected as effective variables, whereas Vs was regarded as …

Geoelectrical Signatures Of The Giant Karaburun Pelitic-Mafic-Type Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Mineralization In The Central Pontides (Türkiye), Kurtuluş Günay, Türker Yas, Buğra Çavdar, Ertan Pekşen

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The Karaburun deposit, hosted in greenschist facies metamorphic rocks, is a newly discovered giant volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposit in Anatolia and provides an exceptional natural laboratory for geophysical monitoring. The main ore body is less affected by metamorphism than the surrounding wall-rocks, where metamorphic and metasomatic processes formed pyritemagnetite- sericite-quartz assemblages that significantly influence geoelectrical properties. In this study, the geometry and extent of mineralization within geologically defined target zones were investigated using direct current resistivity and two-dimensional timedomain induced polarization (2D-TDIP) methods and the results were compared with the geology. A pole–dipole electrode array was employed in the …

A Rarer Earth: The Many States Of Peat In Central Kalimantan, Layna Chen Ms.

Masters of Environmental Design Theses

Peat currently occupies a central place within climate discourse, with Indonesia’s peatlands as a key site of concern since the late twentieth century. Yet this contemporary understanding is historically unstable. Over the last two centuries, what we commonly consider peat has been repeatedly redefined by scientific and bureaucratic institutions. Within popular media, peat has circulated as a low-grade fuel, an infertile swampland, an agricultural soil awaiting rehabilitation, and a hydrological body requiring remediation. Tropical peatland fires, once treated as a scientific improbability, have become a recurring environmental crisis. This history of shifting definitions suggests that ‘peat’ is not a stable …

Enhancing Maternal Hypertension Education And Screening, Elysse R. O'Brien, Nancy Semenza, Cynthia Bednarchik, Cheryl Brown

DNP and Student Works

Problem Statement: Maternal morbidity and mortality are a crucial health concern in the United States. Explicitly, in Illinois, from 2008-2017, there was an average of 75 women who died each year amid pregnancy or within one year of pregnancy, with the highest number, 103, reported in 2017 (IDPH, 2021). The Illinois Department of Public Health was the primary reporting organization used for research purposes, as this pertains more towards the DNP project, since the project was implemented in Illinois. Given the significance of this parental health issue, this student has chosen to implement a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project …

Exploring Intimate Partner Relationship Satisfaction Among Women Who Have Experienced Discrimination And Childhood Trauma, Rachel L. Gaglio

Dissertations

Objective: Connections may exist between intimate partner relationship satisfaction outcomes and experiences of childhood trauma and discrimination among women. The majority of existing research highlights individual trauma impacting relationship satisfaction that includes military experience, childhood trauma, domestic violence, and sexual assault, yet there is a gap in research which expands on both childhood trauma and discrimination endured among women in relation to intimate partner relationship satisfaction outcomes, as they relate to intimacy and closeness and resolving conflict and arguments. The present study explored the links between childhood trauma and discrimination experienced by women and their connection in intimate partner relationship …

Beyond Pedagogical Inertia: Understanding And Overcoming The Barriers To Effective Faculty Work In Higher Education, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

Academic faculty are among the most educated professionals in the world. Yet a striking body of empirical research demonstrates that they face profound, systematic barriers to performing their own work effectively—barriers that are cognitive, institutional, cultural, and structural in origin. This paper extends the analysis of “pedagogical inertia” beyond the classroom to the full scope of faculty professional life: research, writing, service, advising, and self-directed learning. Drawing on evidence from organizational psychology, cognitive neuroscience, higher education research, and behavioral science, we identify six classes of barriers that consistently impede effective faculty work, and we analyze—with reference to documented successful cases—the …

The Ecotoxicological Impact Of Polystyrene On Lissachatina Fulica: A Study Of Growth,  Pedal Mucus Histological Changes, And Protein Mucus Analysis, Atin Supiyani, Wasmen Manalu, Lina Noviyanti Sutardi, Mawar Subangkit, Andriyanto Andriyanto

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Lissachatina fulica mucin can be used as a nutraceutical agent depending on the  quality of their feed. Polystyrene (PS) waste harms soil and plants consumed by  snails, potentially affecting the quality of mucin production. This study investigated  the impact of PS on growth and mucus-producing cell characteristics as well as the  network pharmacology of mucin protein components. Fifty 5–6 cm L. fulica snails  (20–24 g) were fed organic waste (OW) and organic waste with PS (OWPS). After 28  days of ad libitum access to food, the snails’ mucus, meat, and shells were  collected and weighed. Tissue samples from the anterior …

Geometric Structure In High-Dimensional Representations: Theory And Applications To Language, Jiayi Chen

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

This thesis develops a geometric perspective on high-dimensional representations, motivated by applications to language. Rather than treating representations solely as inputs to predictive models, we view them as structured objects whose geometry encodes meaningful information. In particular, we argue that such representations exhibit organization at multiple scales: at a global level, metric and clustering structure capture relationships such as genre, authorship, and discourse; at a local level, geometric quantities such as intrinsic dimension and curvature describe how these relationships vary across the space.

To study these phenomena, we combine empirical analysis with theoretical development. On the empirical side, we examine …

The Impact Of Tgfβ Conditioning And Socs3 Expression On Cytokine Signal Transduction And Inflammatory Gene Expression In Fibroblasts, Morgan Anderson-Crannage

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Inflammation is a major driver in many aspects of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) pathology, including impaired wound healing, fibrosis, and potentially cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma development. Fibroblasts, as key stromal cells in the dermis, are responsible for orchestrating inflammatory responses through the secretion of cytokines and chemokines upon stimulation with IL-1α or IL-6. Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 (SOCS3) functions as a negative feedback regulator of cytokine signaling and has emerged as a key modulator of inflammatory responses in immune cells and fibroblasts. Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGFβ), a known driver of fibrosis in RDEB, has been implicated in …

Silicon Rivalry: Understanding The U.S.-China Ai Competition In Southeast Asia, Daniel Christopher Kent

Master in Public Policy Theses

In the rising global strategic competition between China and the United States, artificial intelligence (AI) has taken on a special significance given its potentially transformative impact upon economics and security. Yet while the dialogue around the “AI race” is typically centered on foundational model capability enhancement, application in security contexts, and chip design and manufacturing, there is much less attention paid to its impact on geopolitics. In particular, AI diplomacy—the work of a state to spread its model of AI governance, evangelize its AI companies, and develop critical AI interdependencies and linkages around the world—is far less studied. Nowhere is …

The Digital Rentier State: Saudi Arabia, George Ngoh

Master in Public Policy Theses

As artificial intelligence reshapes Great Power Competition, control over digital infrastructure has become a key measure of global hegemony. In this context, Saudi Arabia is using its Vision 2030 strategy to pivot from traditional hydrocarbon reliance toward diversification into the AI and emerging technology sector, seeking to secure a position of power in an increasingly multipolar world.

This thesis analyzes whether Saudi Arabia’s AI investments signal a transition away from traditional resource rentierism or the creation of a new digital rentier model. Through primary and secondary research, this study argues that the Kingdom is establishing a sustainable pathway toward a …

Beyond The Ban: Chhaupadi Abolition And The Governance Of Menstrual Autonomy In Western Nepal, Nikita Paudel

Master in Public Policy Theses

This thesis examines how two decades of efforts to abolish chhaupadi have shaped the everyday conditions under which women and girls experience menstruation in western Nepal. Chhaupadi, commonly understood as menstrual seclusion, has been addressed through Supreme Court directives, national policy, criminal law, municipal implementation instruments, hut demolition campaigns, public health programming, and rights-based advocacy. Yet the practice has persisted, adapted, and in some cases moved into less visible spaces. Rather than treating this as a simple gap between law and practice, this thesis asks how abolition efforts themselves have become part of the regulatory regime through which menstruation is …

Design And Analysis Of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Aircraft Using Wuads Design Code, Baiming Zhang, Duyen Nguyen, Mike Kiely, Ramesh Agarwal

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Independent Study

This report presents the application and validation of the Washington University Aircraft Design Software (WUADS) using the Dornier 228 as a representative short- to mediumrange aircraft case study. The objective of this work is to improve the reliability of the WUADS model by testing its ability to reproduce the geometry, weight, aerodynamic performance, stability characteristics, and mission behavior of an existing aircraft with known design and performance data. The Dornier 228 was selected because of its regional aircraft configuration and its relevance to future hydrogen fuel-cell aircraft studies. In this work, key aircraft parameters, including fuselage dimensions, wing geometry, passenger …

Dna Strand Breaks By Small Molecules: From Genomic Hazard To Therapeutic Strategy, Clerin John

Honors Scholar Theses

DNA strand breaks are among the most critical forms of genomic damage, arising from endogenous metabolic activity, environmental stress, radiation, and diverse chemical agents. Single-strand breaks and double-strand breaks contribute to genome instability, mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and neurodegenerative disorders. Cells rely on DNA repair pathways to detect these breaks and initiate repair. In this review, we conducted a comprehensive literature review to systematically compile and examine the mechanisms underlying small-molecule-induced DNA strand breaks. This review highlights the underlying mechanisms by which these molecules interact with DNA and trigger damage. We further discussed the current methods used for detection and quantification of …

Depth-Dependent Suppression Of Bipolar Degradation In 4h-Sic Diodes Via Proton Implantation And Evaluation Of Safe Operating Current Density Range, Atsushi Shimbori, Ryota Wada, Nobuhiro Tokoro, Takashi Kuroi, Hiu Yung Wong, Alex Q. Huang

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This work explores the role of implantation depth in suppressing bipolar degradation of 4H-SiC PiN diodes through proton implantation. Targeting depths aligned with active basal plane dislocations (BPDs) effectively reduces stacking-fault expansion, as confirmed by electroluminescence imaging [1,2]. From these observations, we quantified the effective range of suppression in both depth and safe operating current density. Room-temperature proton implantation (170keV, 1×10¹⁶ cm^-2) into the buffer reduced forward-voltage drift ΔVF by 97% at 600A/cm² . The implanted diode extended the safe operating current range to 1300A/cm², ~200A/cm² higher than the reference, confirming effective suppression …

Usa V. Julius Postell

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Breaking Down Barriers To Pediatric Respite Care Use, Michelle Montanez

Group: Northern Arizona University School of Nursing, DNP Doctoral Papers

Parents of children with a life-limiting illness provide constant, around-the-clock care, often leaving little time for their well-being. This responsibility is emotionally, mentally, and physically demanding, and without proper support, parents face increased risk of depression, burnout, and deteriorating health. Respite services offer relief by providing a much-needed break and allowing parents the opportunity for self-care and improved well-being. Though the benefits of respite are well documented, these services remain underutilized due to barriers such as limited provider awareness, lack of access, and emotional challenges the parents face. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aims to address these barriers …

Pfas Toxicity: What’S True, What’S Not, And What Really Matters, Jamie C. Dewitt, Ian T. Cousins, Gretta Goldenman, Dorte Herzke, Rainer Lohmann, Mark Miller, Carla A. Ng, Martin Scheringer, Xenia Trier, Zhanyun Wang

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

A substantial body of evidence exists demonstrating that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) poses a risk to human health. Data from epidemiological studies of those exposed occupationally or environmentally demonstrate adverse health risks, and these health effects are concordant with data from toxicological studies. Systematic reviews, conducted by agencies, organizations, and independent scientists that synthesize and integrate these data streams, have concluded that a range of health risks arise from PFAS exposure, including different types of cancer, especially kidney and testicular cancer, metabolic alterations such as increased liver enzymes and increased cholesterol, immune dysfunction such as reduced vaccination …

Discharge Preparedness Assessment Using The Path-S Tool With Stroke Patient Caregivers, Sue B. Pugh

Group: Samford University Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing

Background of Project:

• Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States.
• Caregivers are a vital component to successful discharge.
• Inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRF) are designed to prepare individuals and their caregivers for the transition to home.
• IRF’s measure their success using post discharge surveys.
• The IRF involved in this project measured discharge preparedness against a benchmark score.
• A low score of 3.03/5.0 with a benchmark of 3.4/5.0 resulted in the creation of a key performance initiative regarding discharge preparedness. 

The purpose of this project is to utilize an evidence-based tool in the assessment of stroke caregiver preparedness …

Models, Agency, And Expectations: A Mixed-Methods Study Of How Character Develops In Middle School, Aaron J. Schwindt

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study investigated how character develops among middle school students at an international school recognized as a "National School of Character." Despite significant investment in character education (CE), a lack of formal evaluation exists, particularly regarding the process of development during the critical middle school years, a period of intense neurological and social change. Grounded in Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), this study aimed to (1) understand how character develops, (2) compare development before and after program enhancements, and (3) assess the program's impact on discipline. Phase 1 collected Character Growth Index (CGI) survey data from students …